Word Origin & History

scrub "rub hard," c.1300, perhaps from M.Du. or M.L.G. schrubben "to scrub," or from an unrecorded O.E. cognate, or from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. skrubbe "to scrub"), probably ult. from some cognate of shrub, used as a cleaning tool (cf. the evolution of broom, brush). Meaning "to cancel" is attested from 1828 (popularized during World War II with ref. to flights), probably from notion of "to rub out, erase." The noun is recorded from 1621.

Example Sentences for scrubbing

Pop was putting away the dishes, and Jud was scrubbing out the sink.

Bill was scrubbing the porch, and a farmhand was gathering bottles from the grass into a box.

Even when fresh from a scrubbing, his hands were not entirely clean.

Pansy Murphy was scrubbing out the office when he came down for breakfast.

The deck, when he reached it, was wet, but not with the moisture of the scrubbing.